By the end of the decade, the popularity of the Hot Fives and Sevens was enough to send Armstrong back to New York, where he appeared in the popular Broadway revue, Hot Chocolates. He soon began touring and never really stopped until his death in 1971. Louis Armstrong is one of the first great soloists in the 1920s musicians. 149 Copy quote. Aint that stupid? He spread jazz throughout the world. He found that the only way to reap the benefits of success and be protected was if there was a white captain to back you in the old days (Armstrong). Why is Louis Armstrong important to blacks? The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people going by. He moved to the Fate Marable band in the spring of 1919, staying with Marable until the fall of 1921. Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo," "Pops" and, later, "Ambassador Satch," was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He also began singing on these recordings, popularizing wordless "scat singing" with his hugely popular vocal on 1926's "Heebie Jeebies.". His resurgence in the '60s with hit recordings like 1965's Grammy-winning "Hello Dolly" and 1968's classic "What a Wonderful World" solidified his legacy as a musical and cultural icon. It's also worth noting that even though he brought it into popularity, Armstrong in no way invented the technique, which dates back to at least 1906. In April, he reached the charts with his first vocal recording, "Big Butter and Egg Man," a duet with May Alix. Armstrong's popularity continued to grow in Chicago throughout the decade, as he began playing other venues, including the Sunset Caf and the Savoy Ballroom. Then, at the age of five, he was returned to the care of his mother, who at the time worked as a laundress. In a 1951 interview with Esquire, Armstrong claimed to have come prepared with printed lyrics that day. Armstrong was an African American child growing up in the slums of New Orleans, close to abandonment, impoverished, and with too few constant people, resources, or homes. Louis Armstrong was a pivotal musician in the twentieth century, but it was his contributions and his role he made during the Harlem Renaissance movement that is most substantial. He began to grow artistically and perfected his improvisational method (Jazz Stars 2). By the end of his teens, Armstrong had grown up fast. Millions of people, starting in the 1930s until today, have agreed with Louis Armstrongs famous words and have been huge fans of the famous musician. Doctors advised him not to play but Armstrong continued to practice every day in his Corona, Queens home, where he had lived with his fourth wife, Lucille, since 1943. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Between 1952 and 1955, Armstrong shed 100 pounds. Louis began playing at a young age when he was growing up in New Orleans. These views changed in 1957, when Armstrong saw the Little Rock Central High School integration crisis on television. Armstrong was featured in the 1969 film of Hello, Dolly!, performing the title song as a duet with Barbra Streisand. You feel butterflies in your stomach as you take your seat. Louis Armstrong was to jazz music what Bach is to classical music, Presley is to rock music (Berrett 230). Armstrong soon began dating the female pianist in the band, Lillian Hardin. WebRather than appealing simply to the crowd of already established jazz lovers, Louis Armstrong was effective at bridging the gap and reaching out to those that may not have been as familiar with the genre and effectively serving as one of the best ambassadors that the jazz world has ever known. In the 1980s and '90s, younger African American jazz musicians like Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis and Nicholas Payton began speaking about Armstrong's importance, both as a musician and a human being. Why was Louis Armstrong so important? However, conditions changed when he was requested to record the title number of a broadway show that went on to become a hit. WebA jazz pioneer, Louis Armstrong was the first important soloist to emerge in jazz, and he became the most influential musician in the music's history. The pistol should have been stored in a locked, Armstrong did not define himself by his background and could have grown up to be just another poor child from a broken home. Though he had finally spoken out after years of remaining publicly silent, he received criticism at the time from both Black and white public figures. His music had had a major effect on "swing" and the big band sound. Sure enough, he explained, they [published] Heebie Jeebies the same way it was mistakenly recorded. However, most biographers believe that Armstrong made up this anecdote and had planned on scatting all along. This was the first time anyone had ever recorded this technique known as scat singing. ", Armstrong's fully healed lip made its presence felt on some of the finest recordings of career, including "Swing That Music," "Jubilee" and "Struttin' with Some Barbecue.". His rise to the top, though not overnight, occurred quickly, he played with mostly all the major bands in New Orleans over the next few years (Friedwald 350). Jelly Roll, Doctor Jazz, Original Jelly Roll Blues, and many other famous pieces. He was employed by a Jewish family who encouraged him to sing. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. To earn money, Armstrong sang on street corners, sold newspapers, and delivered coal. Armstrong was still a popular attraction around the world in 1963, but hadn't made a record in two years. During his time there, he learned how to play the bugle cornet, an instrument that is similar to the trumpet. He performed less frequently in the late '60s and early '70s, and died of a heart ailment in 1971 at the age of 69. 232) Armstrong unlike other black jazz men and women, was one of the first to be welcomed in the upper echelons of white society. Louis continued to spread his style by touring other countries. His mother, Mayann, was 15 years old when he was born and his father, Willie, abandoned them soon after. Armstrong continued touring the world and making records with songs like Blueberry Hill (1949), Mack the Knife (1955) and Hello, Dolly! William Armstrong, his father, was a factory worker who abandoned the family soon after the boy's birth. Armstrong spent much of that year at home, but managed to continue practicing the trumpet daily. If Armstrong never bought the cornet he would have never become famous. WebLouis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician in jazz history. Since New Orleans style jazz known to man, it was one of the broadest genres of jazz. In September, his recording of that song entered the charts, becoming a Top Ten hit. Copy. One of the first soloists on record, Louis was at the forefront of changing jazz from ensemble-oriented folk music into an art form that emphasized inventive solo improvisations. In 16967, Armstrong recorded his most renowned tune, What a Wonderful Word that surprisingly featured no trumpet. That didnt stop him from living his life like a regular boy. The record was released in 1964 and quickly climbed to the top of the pop music charts, hitting the No. The solos Armstrong performed along with his popular scat singing helped make jazz musicians more popular along with making the fans take notice of Armstrong and jazz itself (Rennert 8). I ain't never heard a horse sing a song. This gift, coupled with Louis Armstrongs already present affinity for the musical sounds of the local New Orleans street bands and brass players that lingered around, helped to brew the perfect storm that would create one of the most prolific players of the 20th century. Mob bosses from New York City and Chicago threatened Louis Armstrong in attempts to control his management contract. 1. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. In 1988, music historian Thaddeus Tad Jones located a baptismal record at New Orleanss Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. (Armstrong did not function as a bandleader in the usual sense, but instead typically lent his name to established groups.) He also began appearing in the orchestra of Hot Chocolates, a Broadway revue, and was given a featured spot singing "Ain't Misbehavin'." In 1918, he married Daisy Parker, a prostitute, commencing a stormy union marked by many arguments and acts of violence. Like almost all early Jazz musicians, Louis was from New Orleans. A year in New York with Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra proved unsatisfying so Armstrong returned to Chicago in 1925 and began making records under his own name for the first time. Career highlights, compiled by the Louis Armstrong House Museum: Featuring young geniuses such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, the younger generation of musicians saw themselves as artists, not as entertainers. I think to myself, what a wonderful world. The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night. Armstrong moved to Chicago to join Oliver's band in August 1922 and made his first recordings as a member of the group in the spring of 1923. Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. In June 1951 he reached the Top Ten of the LP charts with Satchmo at Symphony Hall ("Satchmo" being his nickname), and he scored his first Top Ten single in five years with "(When We Are Dancing) I Get Ideas" later in the year. WebLouis Armstrong. See answer (1) Best Answer. The 1930s also found Armstrong achieving great popularity on radio, in films, and with his recordings. He was often left with his grandmother, and left school in fifth grade to start working. He performed all over the world in the 1950s and '60s, including throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. A YouTube poster named pandasthumb describes the piece. He didn't own an instrument at this time, If one was to go out into the street, walked up to a random stranger and asked them if they knew who Louis Armstrong was, chances are that they would be able to answer you correctly. Show More. Why Is Louis Armstrong Important. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. Then along came a bare-knuckled comedy called Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). In 1936, he became the first African American jazz musician to write an autobiography: Swing That Music. In addition, his mother did not have a stable job and with his father long out of the picture, life was hard for young Armstrong. In 1914, the home released him, and he immediately began dreaming of a life making music. Armstrong's new manager, Joe Glaser, organized a big band for him that had its premiere in Indianapolis on July 1, 1935; for the next several years, he toured regularly. After completing the optimistic anthem, songwriters Bob Thiele and George David Weiss thought that Tony Bennett would eat it right up. He took up work in Joe (King) Olivers house, doing chores in exchange for musical lessons, developing into a. Louis Armstrong is a man of many talents and skills known for creating a new environment, especially in his home town of New Orleans. Dancers loved Hendersons music making Louis Armstrong a celebrity so when he left his old band, this would be a step up. The Armstrongs moved into the home, where they would live for the rest of their lives, in 1943. His amazing technical abilities, the joy and spontaneity, and amazingly quick, inventive musical mind still dominate Jazz to this day. Though he was the product's biggest cheerleader, Armstrong neither requested nor received any payment from its manufacturers. Best Known For: Louis Armstrong was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader and singer known for songs like "What a Wonderful World, Hello, Dolly, Star Dust and "La Vie En Rose.. Armstrong defined what it was to play Jazz. Within a span of three years, Armstrong recorded over sixty records. After being released at age fourteen, he worked selling papers, unloading boats, and selling coal from a cart. He was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. Famous for his innovative methods of playing the trumpet and cornet, he was also a highly talented singer, blessed with a powerful gravelly voice. Known for his improvisation, Armstrong could induce dramatic effects with his music. One of the greatest cornet players in town, Joe "King" Oliver, began acting as a mentor to the young Armstrong, showing him pointers on the horn and occasionally using him as a sub. Many great performers have come out of the jazz industry, but the most widely known is Louis Satchmo Armstrong. At the mention jazz music, that person will first think of is likely to be a great figure with a clown image, nicknamed Satchmo. The jazz magazine Down Beat agreed. Louis was arrested by Police When he was eleven. Armstrong had a difficult childhood: His father was a factory worker and abandoned the family soon after Louis's birth. Unhappy, Armstrong left Henderson in 1925 to return to Chicago, where he began playing with his wife's band at the Dreamland Caf. Armstrong put his career in Glaser's hands and asked him to make his troubles disappear. Louis Armstrong is considered a hero for many reasons. WebImportance of Louis Armstrong. During his span, he composed thousands of songs for everyone to hear. WebWhy Is Louis Armstrong Important. Not a single jazz musician who had previously criticized him took his side but today, this is seen as one of the bravest, most definitive moments of Armstrong's life. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. The new style that he created gave a voice-like quality to his horn. Perhaps most importantly, the letters also detail Armstrong's fatherly love for Sharon. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901. Louis Daniel (Louie) Armstrong is perhaps the most important and influential person in the history of jazz music, swing music, and jazz vocal styling. Though his popularity was hitting new highs in the 1950s, and despite breaking down so many barriers for his race and being a hero to the African American community for so many years, Armstrong began losing his standing with two segments of his audience: Modern jazz fans and young African Americans. St. Louis Cardinals prospect Jordan Walker tracks down a flyball during fielding practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. The single's B-side, and also a chart entry, was "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," sung by Armstrong in the film The Strip. Evidently, the show went well. A year later, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. There, under the tutelage of Peter Davis, he learned how to properly play the cornet, eventually becoming the leader of the Waifs Home Brass Band. Renowned for his charming and incredibly charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet and/or cornet playing, Armstrong 's influence extends far beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the early 1970s at his death, he was widely regarded as a deep and profound influence on popular music in general. With his infectious smile and raspy voice, Louis Armstrong (who actually pronounced his own name "Lewis") won over fans worldwide. He is remembered as the most influential artist in the early development of jazz. He faced tremendous adversity, ignorance and hatred in his life, and fought back without sinking to the level of those who opposed him. His crucial contribution to American and world culture continues to reverberate into the 21 st century. Satch Plays Fats, a tribute to Fats Waller, became a Top Ten LP for Columbia in October 1955, and Verve Records contracted Armstrong for a series of recordings with Ella Fitzgerald, beginning with the chart LP Ella and Louis in 1956. Aristotle did not consider children as morally responsible as adults because they have not had sufficient time to move beyond their backgrounds and upbringing. WebThe point is that Armstrong created and codified an entire vocabulary of jazz, setting the standard for vocalists and instrumentalists. They danced to the jazz music with a whole new style. The song for which Pops is most widely remembered, What a Wonderful World, was almost never his song at all. It was on the riverboat that Armstrong honed his music reading skills and eventually had his first encounters with other jazz legends, including Bix Beiderbecke and Jack Teagarden. Music historians recognize this as the first popular, mass-market scat ever recorded. Armstrongs unique singing and masterful improvisation transitioned jazz from the traditional style to a newer, more rhythmic style. In 1993, it gained renewed popularity when it was used in the film Sleepless in Seattle. "What a Wonderful World" peaked on the U.S. music charts after Armstrong passed away. To many young jazz listeners at the time, Armstrong's ever-smiling demeanor seemed like it was from a bygone era, and the trumpeter's refusal to comment on politics for many years only furthered perceptions that he was out of touch. Pops had a special place in his heart for both Chinese and Italian food. Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Related. One of the most important figures in 20th century music, Armstrong's innovations as a trumpeter and vocalist are widely recognized today, and will continue to be for decades to come. Seems to me it ain't the world that's so bad but what we're doing to it, and all I'm saying is: see what a wonderful world it would be if only we'd give it a chance. For the first time, Armstrong was really able to demonstrate his unique voice during those recording sessions. Armstrongs improvised solos transformed jazz from an ensemble-based music into a soloists art, while his expressive vocals incorporated innovative bursts of scat singing and an underlying swing feel. Louis gave jazz music a purpose. His lips were still sore, and there were still remnants of his mob troubles and with Lil, who, following the couple's split, was suing Armstrong. Mozart, in his own traditional ways, the right away he did the first three of his 22 performances at that opera. On New Years Eve 1912, he was arrested and sent to the Colored Waifs Home for Boys. In addition Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes., On the 26th day of December in 1788 there was a very great success. By the start of 1932, he had switched from the "race"-oriented OKeh label to its pop-oriented big sister Columbia, for which he recorded two Top Five hits, "Chinatown, My Chinatown" and "You Can Depend on Me" before scoring a number one hit with "All of Me" in March 1932; another Top Five hit, "Love, You Funny Thing," hit the charts the same month. He was known for both his joyous ways with the trumpet and his peculiarly touching and funny vocal style. It started in New Orleans and over the years, stretched out throughout the whole United States. 1 slot in May 1964, and knocking the Beatles off the top at the height of Beatlemania. By the summer of 1970, Armstrong was allowed to perform publicly again and play the trumpet. After they married in 1924, Hardin made it clear that she felt Oliver was holding Armstrong back. His influence, both as an artist and cultural icon, is universal and is still relevant today. He would attend parades, funerals, churches and go to cheap cabarets to be able to hear some of the greats play, Little Louis sung in a vocal quartet in his early teens. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Despite failing to make a new record for two years, Armstrong remained a fan favorite. He dropped out of school at 11 to join an informal group, but on December 31, 1912, he fired a gun during a New Year's Eve celebration, and was sent to reform school. The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. Ironically, Armstrong later wrote the whole thing off as a big blunder on his part. (Cayton, 462) Armstrong was the king of jazz trumpet players. To grasp how much the man adored this entre, consider that he often signed his personal letters with Red Beans and Ricely Yours..